Message for Parents and snapchat users please read!
Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:01 am
Just to bring something to your attention if you child uses snapchat they have introduced a new feature that can be potentially dangerous.
For those none tech savvy a brief overview snapchat is a messaging system where you can chat to people or send them photos, the platforms unique selling point is the messages and photos disappear once read. You can also post photos or videos to stories which last for 24hrs then disappear which all your "friends" can view
The new feature allows you to add your location to a map that looks a lot like google maps. The main danger in this is the accuracy of this location it literally goes to basically individual house level so if activated all your "friends" can see exactly where you are and where you live, and this updates every time you access the app so they would also know when a young child was at the park for example
The big danger here is that "friends" on snapchat are just contacts. Its not like facebook or instagram there are no profiles or no contact details. you dont even have to have a profile picture. Its not unreasonable to assume a status symbol for the young would be to have lots of followers on snapchat many of them may be complete strangers.
There is also the other side to this many will snap pictures inside their houses, possibly of things they own, well this would give someone a candid view of your house and then where it is on the map and more crucially when you're not there
Please pass on this message and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask
For those none tech savvy a brief overview snapchat is a messaging system where you can chat to people or send them photos, the platforms unique selling point is the messages and photos disappear once read. You can also post photos or videos to stories which last for 24hrs then disappear which all your "friends" can view
The new feature allows you to add your location to a map that looks a lot like google maps. The main danger in this is the accuracy of this location it literally goes to basically individual house level so if activated all your "friends" can see exactly where you are and where you live, and this updates every time you access the app so they would also know when a young child was at the park for example
The big danger here is that "friends" on snapchat are just contacts. Its not like facebook or instagram there are no profiles or no contact details. you dont even have to have a profile picture. Its not unreasonable to assume a status symbol for the young would be to have lots of followers on snapchat many of them may be complete strangers.
There is also the other side to this many will snap pictures inside their houses, possibly of things they own, well this would give someone a candid view of your house and then where it is on the map and more crucially when you're not there
Please pass on this message and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask